Stobo Castle
Encyclopedia
Stobo Castle is located at Stobo in the Scottish Borders
, in the former county
of Peeblesshire
. The Manor of Stobo was originally owned by the Balfour
family. It became the family seat of the Graham-Montgomery Baronets
from 1767. The building of the present castle began in 1805 and was completed in 1811 under the supervision of architects Archibald
and James Elliot. It is currently operated as a health spa. The house is protected as a category A listed building, while the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
, the national listing of significant parks and gardens.
, a judge who served as Lord Advocate
and Lord Chief Baron of the Scottish Exchequer
from 1775. He was created a Baronet
in 1801. On his death in 1803, his son James inherited the estate, and commissioned a new house from the architect James Elliot (brother and partner of Archibald Elliot
). Stobo Castle was constructed between 1805 and 1811 in a castellated style. In 1849 the porte-cochère
was added by Sir Graham Graham-Montgomery, 3rd Baronet, to a design by John Lessels
. Sir Graham also had the grounds redesigned by John Hay in 1872.
In 1905 Stobo was sold to the English cricketer Hylton Philipson. A keen gardener, Philipson laid out the Japanese
-influenced water gardens and terraces, and formed three large lakes on the estate. In 1939, after Philipson's death, the estate was sold again to the Countess of Dysart
. In the post-war years the estate was subdivided, and the contents of the house were auctioned by Sotheby's in April 1972. Stobo Castle was purchased in 1975 by the Winyards, who established a health resort. A large extension, incorporating new hotel rooms and a swimming pool, was opened in 2003.
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
, in the former county
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of Peeblesshire
Peeblesshire
Peeblesshire , the County of Peebles or Tweeddale was a county of Scotland. Its main town was Peebles, and it bordered Midlothian to the north, Selkirkshire to the east, Dumfriesshire to the south, and Lanarkshire to the west.After the local government reorganisation of 1975 the use of the name...
. The Manor of Stobo was originally owned by the Balfour
Balfour
-People:* Balfour , a Scottish family name* Lord Balfour of Burleigh* Baron Balfour of Glenawley* Sir Graham Balfour, Victorian statistician and member of Florence Nightingale's inner circle.-Earls of Balfour:...
family. It became the family seat of the Graham-Montgomery Baronets
Graham-Montgomery Baronets
The Barony of Stanhope and Stobo and the Manor of Stobo was bought by James Montgomery in 1767 for £40,500 from the Murray family.*Sir James Montgomery, 1st Baronet Stanhope....
from 1767. The building of the present castle began in 1805 and was completed in 1811 under the supervision of architects Archibald
Archibald Elliot
Archibald Elliot was a Scottish architect.Archibald Elliot ran an architecture practice in London and Edinburgh with his brother James Elliot. Following James' death in 1810, Archibald ran the company on his own...
and James Elliot. It is currently operated as a health spa. The house is protected as a category A listed building, while the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland is a listing of gardens and designed landscapes of national artistic and/or historical significance, in Scotland. The Inventory was originally compiled in 1987, although it is a continually evolving list...
, the national listing of significant parks and gardens.
History
A tower house, known as Hill House, formerly stood on the site of Stobo Castle. The Stobo estate was owned by the Murrays of Tweedsmuir around 1750. In 1767, the Stobo estate was bought by James MontgomerySir James Montgomery, 1st Baronet
Sir James William Montgomery, 1st Baronet was a Scottish politician and judge.Called to the bar in 1743, he was sheriff of Peeblesshire from 1748 and joint Solicitor General for Scotland from 1760, holding the office solely from 1764. He was promoted to Lord Advocate in 1766. He was created Lord...
, a judge who served as Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
and Lord Chief Baron of the Scottish Exchequer
Court of Exchequer (Scotland)
The Court of Exchequer was formerly a distinct part of the court system in Scotland, with responsibility for administration of government revenue and judicial matters relating to customs and excise, revenue, stamp duty and probate...
from 1775. He was created a Baronet
Graham-Montgomery Baronets
The Barony of Stanhope and Stobo and the Manor of Stobo was bought by James Montgomery in 1767 for £40,500 from the Murray family.*Sir James Montgomery, 1st Baronet Stanhope....
in 1801. On his death in 1803, his son James inherited the estate, and commissioned a new house from the architect James Elliot (brother and partner of Archibald Elliot
Archibald Elliot
Archibald Elliot was a Scottish architect.Archibald Elliot ran an architecture practice in London and Edinburgh with his brother James Elliot. Following James' death in 1810, Archibald ran the company on his own...
). Stobo Castle was constructed between 1805 and 1811 in a castellated style. In 1849 the porte-cochère
Porte-cochere
A porte-cochère is the architectural term for a porch- or portico-like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building through which a horse and carriage can pass in order for the occupants to alight under cover, protected from the weather.The porte-cochère was a feature of many late 18th...
was added by Sir Graham Graham-Montgomery, 3rd Baronet, to a design by John Lessels
John Lessels
John Lessels was a Scottish architect and artist, notably active in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. He was responsible for numerous buildings and alteration projects in Berwickshire....
. Sir Graham also had the grounds redesigned by John Hay in 1872.
In 1905 Stobo was sold to the English cricketer Hylton Philipson. A keen gardener, Philipson laid out the Japanese
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
-influenced water gardens and terraces, and formed three large lakes on the estate. In 1939, after Philipson's death, the estate was sold again to the Countess of Dysart
Earl of Dysart
Earl of Dysart is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1643 for William Murray, who had earlier represented Fowey and East Looe in the English House of Commons. He was made Lord Huntingtower at the same time, also in the Peerage of Scotland. He was succeeded by his daughter, the...
. In the post-war years the estate was subdivided, and the contents of the house were auctioned by Sotheby's in April 1972. Stobo Castle was purchased in 1975 by the Winyards, who established a health resort. A large extension, incorporating new hotel rooms and a swimming pool, was opened in 2003.